British Claim to Inventing Champagne

For centuries, credit for inventing the méthode champenoise was traditionally given to Dom Pérignon, and to France. Now, however, a British researcher claims that the credit should be given to an English scientist by the name of Christopher Merrett. According to the Times Online, James Crowden, author of a book on the history of cider, Merrett described how to make sparkling wine in a paper presented to the Royal Society in the year 1632. This would upset the French claim, but would also be surprising, since the Royal Society was not founded until 1660. Arrrgh!